Plural-arc lamp.



R. E. LEVE.

PLURAL'ABG LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.17, 190s.

Patented Mar. 30, 1909.

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R. E. LEVE.

PLUBAL ARC LAMP. v APPLICATION FILED AUG.17, 1908.

Patented Mar. 30, 1909.

Q QM cient' automatic striking of all t e arcs at one ROBERT E. LEV'E, F gnw YORK, N. Y'.

PLURAL-ARC LAMP.

To all whom it ma'y concem: 4

Be. it known that 1, ROBERT E. have, a" citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, county of New York, city and State of N ew York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Plural-Arc Lamps, of whicht e following is a specification.

.This invention relates to are lamps in general. I An Object is to accomplish the eflicient and satisfactory automatic maintenance of a plurality of arcs at the Sametime in a single lampstructure. I

A ;'fu 1 ther object is to accom lish the efiioperation and the inde endent feeding of an independent electrode or each arc.

Still a further object is, to improve arc lamp mechanism in general and to prevent side shadows when the lamp is operating.

The above and further objects of the invention will be clear from the accom anying description read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of this application, in which like characters represent corresponding parts and in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing the nvention but with parts broken away; Fig. 2 a cross section through line IIII of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a cross section through line III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view similar to-Fig. 3 .but shbwing a three socket frame; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a four socket frame Fig. 6 is a diagram showin circuit connections; and Fig. 7 is" an e arged side elevation artly in vertical section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 but with'parts broken away.

Reterrin now more in detail to the drawings: 1 an 2 indicate respectively the top and bottom plates for the controlling mechanism. The plates 1 and 2 may conveniently be stayed together by the hollow up rights 3 and 4 which may be two or more 1n number, and which also serve as ways for the upper or positive electrode holders, 'as

i .will hereinafter be described. Any suitable casing such as 5 mayinclosethe controlling mechanism as shown. Likewise, any and all other well known accessories to arc lamp structure are contemplated, such as hangers, insulated connections, suitable insulation, etc. A central sustaining stem 6 extends Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 17, 1908. Serial No. 448,807.

Patented March so, 1909.

through the insulating bushing 7, centrally positioned in the bottom plate 2. This stem 6 sustains at its lower end a gang frame or spider 8, which comprises a lurallty of radiating arms as shown and in icated by 9 and 16 in Figs. 1 and 3. These arms may be two or more in number and they should be mutually insulatedt The insulating j dint 11. serves the purpose of insulating arm 10 from arm 9. At the end of each arm is provided an electrode holder or electrode socket. 1n Fig. 1 these holders are indicated by 12 and '13, which carry negative electrodes 14 and 15.

As has just been stated, the number of need not be limited to two. It is merely desirable that the electrode sockets be synimetrically positioned about the sustaining stem 6. For instance in Fig. 4, three electrode sockets, 12, 13 and 16 are illustrated symmetrically positioned about the same stem 6. 1 The extra socket 113 is provided at the end of the third arm 17, which also provided with an insulating joint 18. In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a gang frame providing four sockets which are likewise syminetrically positioned about the sustaining stem 6. In this iigure the fourthsocket is indicated by 19, it being located at the end of arm 20, also provided with an insulating joint 21.

electrode sockets for the negative electrodes 1 The stem 6 is connected at its upper end,

by the pin 22, to the core 23 of the low resistance series coil 24.. The pin 22 may like- Wise serve as means for preventing rotationof the stem 6 and consequently of the gang frame 8, by cooperating with the spool of coil 24 in any well known manner. The. stem, however, has a reciprocating 11lovelnent through the bushing 7 in unison with the core 23. A compression spring 25' as shown located about the stem 6 within the solenoid, rests at one end, against the washer 26 of the solenoid 24 and in turn is so ported by the supporting yoke- 27. 'l" 10. opposite end of the compression spring25 reacts against the lower end of core 23, so as normally to support the Weight of core 23-, sustaining stem 6, and the entire gang frame 8 with the negative electrodes. (fol-responding to each negative electrode is a positive electrode. Those positive electrodes corresponding to negative electrodes 14 and l15 are indicated by 28 and 29. Positive 6 upper end of the upright 3.

electrode 28 is supported by positive electrode holder 30, which has an up and down movement in upright 3, which serves as a guideway for the holder 30. This upright 3 may be provided with a longitudina slot 32 in which travels the pin 33, preventing rela tive rotation of the holder 30 to the upright 3. The similar electrode holder 31 for the electrode 29 moves up and down in the upright 4 which likewise is provided with a slot 34, through which the pm 35, similar to pm 33 may travel. The uprights 3 and-4 may be insulated from the rest of the lamp structure as is shown in detail for u right 4. The insulating bushing 36 insu ates the lower end of the upright while the insulating plug 37 insulates the upper end of the up ri t 4.

38 and 39 indicate respectivel suitable suspension means for the electrode olders 30 and 31. These means may be cords, chains or the like. \The cord 38 first passes over the idler 40, running on the pin 41 fixed to the The cord 38 passes out laterally through a suitable opening fromthe upright '3 over the periphery of the winding drum 42, to which 1t is secured. This winding drum 42 is carried loosel on the sleeve 43, which in turn is journaled on the shaft 44, supported by arms 45 and 46 depending from the top plate 1. A spiral spring 47 is normally under tension and tends to wind up the cord 38 on the drum 42, independently of the movement of the sleeve 43. Secured to the side of the drum 42 is a pawl 48, engaging into the ratchet 49 secured fast tothe sleeve 43. The pawl and ratchet 48, 49 permit the winding rotation of drum 42, relatively to sleeve 43 but prevent the op 0- site relative rotation. Fixed to the ot er end of sleeve-43 is the friction sheave 50. p A

friction band 51 shown inthe form of a chain is secured at one end 52, to the top plate 1. This band passes beneath the sheave 50, as indicated b broken lines, and its opposite ,end is secured to the projecting arm 53- of a lever construction 54 fulcrumed on the bracket arm '55. A tension spring 56 attached to the top plate 1 and also to the lever.

construction 54, tends normally to tighten the chain 51 about the friction sheave 50. This lever construction 54 also comprises the offset extension arm 57, the extreme end of i which is pivoted to link 58 whichin turn is pivoted to core 59 of shunt coil or solenoid 60. Secured fast to the sleeve 43 is an escapement Wheel 61. The escapement 62 is provided with a pendulum 63 and is pivotally supported by the bracket arm 46 in operative enga ement with the teeth of escapement whee 61. These parts constitute an inertia governorfor controlling the rotation of drum 42, preventing too sudden unwinding on the release of the brake sheave 50. A similar controlling mechanism is provided for the 'to the bracket 75. The tension sprin suspension cords for all the independently movable electrode holders, and such mechanism is'also illustrated for the suspension cord 39. The cord 39 passes over idler 64 and its end is secured to winding drum 65 loose upon sleeve 66 carried by shaft 44. 67 is this1 spiral spring normally tending to wind u t e ti ire to 66 bein permitted by pawl and ratchet 68, 69. Ihe friction drum 70 is secured to sleeve 66 and the friction band 71 asses beneath and partly around drum 70, its end 72 being secured to the top plate 1 and its opposite end being secured to arm73 of lever construction 74, which is fulcrurned 76 tends normall to tighten the band 71 a out drum 70. Tile extension arm 77 of lever construction 74 is pivoted at its extreme end to link 78 which in turn is pivoted to core 79 of shunt coil or solenoid 80. 81 is an escapement wheel secured to sleeve 66 and 82 is an escapement for wheel 81 ivoted to bracket arm'45 andprovided wit a pendulum 83. All theseparts are similar in construction and o eration to those described in connection wit cord 38. p

The shunt solenoids 60 and 80 may be supported upon suitable brackets 84 and 85, car ried by the series coil 24. There should be one shunt coil for each independently feedingelectrode holder such as 30 and 31.

86 and 87 are the terminals for solenoid 80, and 88 and 89 are the terminals for solenoid .60.; The terminals of series coil 24 are indicated by 90 and 91.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the electric connections for the various parts. The positive terminal 92 is connected to the holder 30 for positive electrode 28, by wire 93. The

holder 12 for. negative electrode 14 is connected by wires 94 and 95 to holder 31 for positive electrode 29. Holder 13 for negative electrode 15 is electrically connected through the arm 9, stem 6 and wire, 96 to the terminal 90 of series coil 24. The terminal 91 of series coil 24 leads directly to the negative terminal 97. One terminal 88 of shunt coil 60 is connected to the positive electrode holder 30 by wire 93, while the other terminal 89 is connected to the holder-12 of negative electrode 14 by wires 98 and 94. Qne terminal 86 of shunt coil 80 is connected to the holder 31 of the positive electrode 29, by wires 99, 98 and 95. The other terminal 87 of shunt coil 80 is connected to holder 13 of drum 65, movement of drum 65 role-- negative electrode 15 by wires 100 and 96,

The lampmay be trinrmed so that the positive electrodes contact with the negative/5 In case thiscontact does not" electrodes. exist for all electrodes whenthe current is turned on to the lamp, that shunt coil which corresponds to the set of electrodes which are not touching will increase its pull upon its core so as to cause the feeding of the top electrode of this. set until it makes contact with the bottom electrode. Current then traverses all 'sets of electrodes and the series coil 24 in series. The core' 23 is depressed against spring 24, lowering all the negative electrodes in unison and simultaneously. striking all the arcs for theseveral sets of electrodes. The pull of the series coil 24 on its core23 varieswith the strength of the current and regulates the length of all the arcs in unison.-

Inasmuchas it hasbeen found that some electrodes burn away at. different rates from others, it is quite important that independ-' ent feeding for each set of electrodes be provided. This is accomplished by the mechanism controlled by theshunt coils preyiously described. The potential across each inthe corresponding arc to coil 60 should in.

dividual arc causes .a direct variation in the strength of the pull of its shunt coil upon its core, as for instance thapull of shunt coil 60 upon core 59. Thus, if the potential across crease beyond the desired maximum, the tension of friction'band 51 about friction sheave 50 is decreased sufficiently to allow a slight rotation of sheave 50, which is eflectfed bythe weight of'thc suspended electrode and electrode holder on suspension cord 38 tending tounwind the winding drum 42.

This feeding movement is kept from being jerky by an inertia governor shown in theform of a pendulum escapement as previously described. It has been found inthis mechanism that the feeding of the electrode is so gradual that it cannot be observed by the naked eye without the aid of a vernier scale.

It is of course to be understood that my invention contemplates the construction of a gang are lamp comprising any number of sets of electrodes, each set of electrodes providing-an are. I have illustrated and described in detail the controlling mechanism for such a lam comprising two sets of two electrodes eac thus furnishing two arcs burning in series in the same lamp structure.

templated. The diagram connections'i-llustrated inFig. -6 are merelyillustrativenmd suitable circuits can of course be accomplished by other connections. I am also aware that for -some'purposes it is not necessary that all the arcsof my lamp mechanism be connected in series. The diagram of Fig. 6 is clearly illustrative of the circuits fora plurality of sets of two electrodes in series;

relation,.and would be' precisely similar if the number ofrsets were three or more instead of two;

What is claimed and what is desired to bev secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:.

'1. In: an arc lamp, a set of two or more negative electrodes; means for moving said set as'an entirety; a second set of twoor more cooperating positive electrodes; and

electric connections for connecting each negative electrode to the next positive electrode.

2. In a pluralseries arc lamp, a gang elec trode carr'iage having a plurality of mutually insulated electrode sockets all constrained to move in unison; and a plurality of opposing electrode-holders fed independent y each other and one for each of said sockets.

. 3. In a plural are lamp, a gang carriage having a plurality of electrode sockets; 'means comprlsmg a series coil for moving said'gang carriage; an independent electrode holder corresponding to each of the sockets of said carriage; and independent means comprising ajshunt coil for causingfeeding for each of said electrode holders.

4. In a plural arc lamp, a plurality ofsimilar electrodes; suitabl controlled means for moving saldslmllar e ectrodes in unison to strike the arcs; a-plurality of opposing elec-' trodes one for each of said similar electrodes and completing a plurality of sets of cooperatin-g electrodes; and means for each'of said opposite electrodes for feeding it independently of the other said opposite electrodes.

5. In a plural. arc lamp, a plurality of simi-' lar electrodes; suitably controlled means" for moving said similar electrodes in unison to strike the arcs; a plurality of opposing electrodes one for each of said similar electrodes and completing a plurality of sets of cooperating electrodes; and means for-each of said opposite electrodes for feeding it independ-- ently of the other said 0 .posite electrodes said means comprising e ectric means controlled by the potential across the are be" tween the cooperating electrodes of the'set.

6. In a plural arc lamp, a plurality of sets of electrodes; all sets being capable of maintaining electric arcs, one for each set; comprising a plurality of bottom electrodes and a plurality ofcooperating top electrodes; electric connections for connecting said sets of electrodes in series means controlled by the series current traversing said electrodes for lowering said bottom electrodes in unison to In testimony whereof, I have signed my strike the arcs; means tending to elevate said l name to thisspecilication, in the presence of bottom electrodes; and a plurality of means, i two. SUbSCIlblIlg witnesses.

I one for each of said top electrodes and 0 er- 7 ROBERT E. LEVE.

sting independently of each other, for e leet- Witnesses: j I v r ing the lowering of each top electrode in re- A. F. .ZAINiE,

sponse to an increase in potential of its are. M'. T. OBBIEN. 

